Brake



J. F. OCONNOR Dec. 3, 1929.

BRAKE Filed Aug. 29, 1924 l l l l l l l.

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PTNT OFFICE JOHN F. OCONNOR, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO W. I-I. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BRAKE Application filed August 29, 1924.

This invention relates to brakes.

One object of the invention is to provide a hand brake for railway and other vehicles having means for quickly taking up the slack in the brake chain, and then automatically increasing the leverage ratio pull on the brake chain during the final application of the braking pressure.

Another object of my invention is to pro` vide a brake of this character, provided with a tightening element, in conjunction with a plurality of transmitting means, one of which is a planetary gear arrangement, and a clutch mechanism arranged to be moved into engagement with one or the other of said transmitting means, the operation of said clutch mechanism being automatically accomplished by encountering increased re-l sistance on the tightening element.

Other and further objects of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention, partly in elevation, showing the same applied to a railway car. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the invention on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a driving member used in connection with my invention. Figure 4 is a top plan view of a movable clutch element utilized in connection with my invention. Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of such clutch element. And Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a connecting member forming part of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates an end wall of a railway car to which the brake is adapted to be secured. My invention preferably includes mechanism for actuating the brake stad which comprises a housing 11 provided with anges 12, which are secured to the wall 10 by means of rivets 13 or other suitable fastening means. Rotatably mounted in such housing is a brake staff 14, upon which is secured a ratchet wheel 15, such ratchet wheel being adapted to be rotated by means of an actuating device including an operating lever 16 having a spring pressed pawl 17 associated therewith, such. lever Serial No. 734,832.

being pivotally connected adjacent its end to a carrier 18, which is disposed about the staff 14, the arrangement being such that the lever 16 normally hangs in depending inoperative position. When it is desired to rotate the .staff 14, the lever is swung upwardly, causing the engagement of the pawl 17 with the ratchet 15, whereupon oscillation of such lever effects rotation of the staff 14 in a clockwise direction. Retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel 15 is prevented by a preferably spring controlled pawl (not shown), connected to a release lever 19, which pawl engages the ratchet wheel 151 rigid with and located below the ratchet wheel 15. In release the lever 16 is first allowed to assume its depending position, and the lever 19 is operated to disengage the pawl connected therewith, so that the staff 14 is then free to unwind in a counterclockwise direction. Although I prefer to use staff operating mechanism of the characted described, other suit able means for rotating such staff may be utilized in connection with the transmitting mechanism which will now be referred to.

The transmitting mechanism contemplated by my invention includes a stationary member in the form of a beveled gear 21, which is preferably secured to the under surface of the housing 11 by means of screw bolts 20, or other securing means, such gear facing outwardly and downwardly, and being disposed about a sleeve 22 forming an extension of the ratchet wheels 15 and 151 extending through and beyond the gear 21, such sleeve being provided with a reduced portion 23 on its lower end. Rotatably mounted upon the reduced portion 23 of the sleeve 22 is the upper end portion of an inverted cup-shaped connecting member 24, said member being provided with trunnions 25, which extend outwardly therefrom, and are adapted to be secured to a supporting member, which is preferably in the form of an outer two part housing as shown. Such housing comprises a hollow body portion 26, having oppositely disposed vertical slots 27 extending from its upper edges downwardly a suitable distance, such slots being arranged to receive the trunniens 25 ef the connecting member ,24 snugly therein. The loiver end of the body portion is provided with an integral sleeve 28 rotatably mounted in a bracket- 29, which is secured to the Wall l of the car by suitable fastening means, the bottoni portion 26 of such honsing bearing against, and beingsnpported upon the bracket The housing also includes a cap 292 vtor closing the same, the cap being provided With an aperture 293 in its top the wall ot which loosely about the neel: ot the gear 2l. Such cap also preferably has its lower edges rabbeted to engage the correspondingly rabbeted upper of "he body portion 2f. The cap 292 o includes extensions 294; which project i to and .till the slots 2'?, the inner ends of such extensions being curved to lit about the t?. mnions 25, thereby-,f completely closing the housing, crzcept *for the apntnre 293 in the top oi the cap.

yveled gears 30 and 3l are rotatably mounted on the trunnions 25, and are arranc'ed to mesh with the gear 2l, and with another beveled gear 32, disposed Within said nonsing, and normally resting against the bottom thereof.` The 32 is loosely journaled on the stair" 14,. which extends through the housing),- 26, and terminates in the sleeve 2S of such housing as shown.

' The inner side et the gear 32 is provided with a. plurality oi clutch members in the form et teeth 33, adapted to cooperate With clutch members 34; formed on the lower end a shiftable clutch device 35, there being a sp 36 interposed between the gear 32 and the clutch device 'for' normally holdingl tl e clutch members 3e ont oi engagement with he clutch members 313 on the gear 32. fhe upper portion ot' the clutch device 35 is provided withr a plurality et clutch extensions or menfibers 3'?, each of which has an inclined portion 33 on its rear tace, the forward face 'i each clutch extension 37 beingvortioally disposed il arranged to normally bear agains` the s ight :laces ot clutch portions 3S) termed on the inner surface oi the connectinemlt-er 2li, as shown. i driving member l0 secured to the 14; (which at l upiw'dly therefrom tothe top i square crosssec 4ion) in position to cooperate with the clutch device 35, sach driving being; provided with a plurality of L i 1u 'ing lugs 4l, each oi which has its upper i'orivard tace Ll2 'inclinedand its lower :Sofware J' snch i race Li3 verti ally disposed, driving lugs being); arranged to engage the clutch extensions 37 et the clutch device 3:5, but being free ci the clutch portions 39. it should be noter that. the terms forward and rear asemployed herein indicate respecely, the advancing and retreating aces of various members, assuming rotation of ,f statt lll in a clockwise direction.

' housing' 23 is connected to a Winding drum, not shown, by means ol' a shaft or stati extension Lili, the inner ene ol' which has a souarcd portion fittingl into a corresponding socket formed in the sleeve 28 ot' the housing` 26, so that rotation of said housing; is directly communicated to the Winding drum.

in operation, when the stati lll is rotated in a clockwise direction, the movement is transmitted through the medium of the driving lugs ll to the extensions 37 of the clutch device, and thence to the clutch portions 39 oi the connecting member 24, such movement beine` further transmitted by the connecting member to the housing 2li to impart rotation thereto, Which'- in tarn causes rotation of the sleeve 28, the shaft 44:, and the Winding` drum connected therewith. Upon a predetermined resistance being` encountered, that is, when the slack ori thebrake chain has been taken up, .the inclined faces Zl2 ot' the driving lugs ll bear-ine upon the inclined portions 38 oi' the clutch extensions 37, cause the clutch device to nii-.ove downwardly and out oit' engagement with the clutch portions 39 of the connecting lower end of the clutch device, with the clutch member 33 en the upper face et the gear 32, the: straight faces i3 of the driving lugs` in this position ot the parts having a positive .driving engagement with the clutch eXteniis 37. The rotation ci the stal-l" lll is now transmitted to the gear 32, rotating the gears 30 and 31 which are in mesh With the stationaryA gear 21, thereby causing the gears 30 and 3l to travel around tble stationary gear 2l, corresponding movement being imparted to the. lionsing and Windingy drum, the speed ot movement of the housing being decreased one halt, and: thev power ratio corrcspondinely doubled, When gears Vof the sizes shown are used'. Retrograde movement of the is prevented as shove described.v 1Silben the sta is released the parts will assume their normal position under the influence oi the spring 36, as will be readily understood.'

'By this arrangement, it will be seen that during` the initial Win-ding` of the-brake drum to take np the slack, I provide transmittingv means affording a direct transmission of tie power imparted to tlie'statf lit, to the shaft Llei, leading to vviiidino4 drum, and upon a predetermined resistance being enc entered, driving movement is transferred to other transmitting means in the form ot a planeta-ry gear' arrangement through the medium ot an automatically operable clutch mechanism, whereby the power ratio is greatly increased. lt should also be observed that the clutch mechanism is of such a character that dln-ing the initial rotation oi"- the stati, the olntehf device is resiliently held in engagement with the clutch portions 3 ou, and in addition'the straight faces of the clutch portions 39 and clutch extensions 3i eii'ieet a frictional engagement, so that the clutch is not moved by the inclined faces 42 of the driving member until considerable resistance has developed. When the clutch has been shifted it will be appreciated that the straight faces 43 of the driving lugs, engaging the adjacent straight faces of the extensions 3?, afford a positive driving connection therebetween. A tention is also called to the fact that the travel of the clutch meinber; due to the length of the inclined faces of the driving lugs 4l is such that the clutch teeth of the cooperating transmitting members are completely disengaged so as to prevent any dragging or interference therebetween during the operation of the device.

l have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the saine is merely illustrative and l contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

i. ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening element; of a plurality of transmitting means cooperating with said tightening element, one of said transmitting' means being in the form of a planetary system; rotary clutch device ar anged for connection with either of said transmitting means; and means for rotating said clutch device, including means for automatically shifting the clutch device upon said clutch device encountering a predetermined resistance.

2. ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening` element; of a plurality of transmitting means cooperating with said tightening element, and having different ratios, one of said transmitting means being in the form of a planetary system; a clutch device arranged for connection with either of said transmitting means; means arranged to a toinat lly shift said clutch device from one transmitting means te another; and drivin g means having a positive driving connection with said clutch device in its shifted position.

ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening element; of a plurality of transmitting means cooperating with said tightening element, one of said transmitting means being in the form of a planetary system; a clutch device arranged for connection with either of said transmitting means; means for shifting said clutch device from one to the other of sai-d transmitting means, said shifting means serving to move said clutch device clear of the transmitting means from which it is disengaged.

el. ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening element; of a plurality of transmitting means cooperating with said tightening element, one of said means being` in the form of a planetary system, each of said transmitting means having connecting elements associated therewith; a clutch device having means adapted to engage thV connecting elements of said transmitting means; and driving means free of said connecting elements and arranged to engage said clutch device to drive the same.

5. ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tiOhtening element; of a plurality of transmitting means cooperating with sait tightening element, one of said means being in the form of a planetary system, each of said transmitting means having connecting elements associated therewith; a clutch device having means adapted to engage the connecting elements of either of said transmitting means; and means free of said connecting elements and arranged to engage said clutch device to shift the same, and drive the said device in its various positions.

6. In a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening element; of a supporting member connected with said element; power multiplying planetary gearing operatively connected with said supporting` member; a connecting member free of said planetary power multiplying gearing and connected to said suppoi member; driving means shiftable into operative engagement with said power multiplying O'e ring or said connecting member; and means for automatically shifting said driving means upon increased resistance being oiiered to the operation of the tightening element.

. 7. ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening element; of a supporting member connected with said element; power 1multiplying planetary gearing in driving reiation with said supporting member; a connecting member free of said planetary gearing and connected to said supporting member; a clutch device adapted for engagement with said planetary gearing or said connecting member; and means for driving and shifting said clutch device.

8. ln a brake mechanism, the combination with a tightening element; of a supporting member connected with said element; a planetary gearing in driving relation with said supporting member; a connecting member free of said planetary gearing and connected to said supporting member; clutch mechanism adapted for engagement with said planetary gearing` or said connecting member, means for driving said clutch element and shifting said clutch element out of driving 'relation with respect to the connecting member and into driving engagement with the .planetary gearing upon a predetermined resistance being encountered by said tightening element.

9, ln a bralre mechanism, the combination ith a tightening element; of a supporting member connected with said element; a planetary gearing in driving relation with said supporting member; a connecting mem- CII ber tree of said planetary gearing and connected in driving relation to said' supporting member g, clutch members associated with said connecting' member andi said' planetary gear- 5 i adapted `tor engagement With the clutch members oit said connecting members and said planetary gearing; and. driving means for driving and shi t'ting saidclntch device.

i0. In a brake mechanism, the combination with tightening element; of a housing connected withV said tightening element; connecting element secured to said housing; a plurality ot intermeshing gears carried by said? housing; a stationary gear independent a clutch device having clutch membersv ment, one ot said means including power multiplying planetary gearing; a clutch device adapted for connection to either of said transmitting means; and means associated With said staff tor drivingv and shifting said clutch device. Y Y

In Witness that I claim' the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of August, 1924.

JOHN F. OCONNOR.

oi said housing arranged to mesh with theY V gears carried' by said housing ;1 and a clutch device arranged for connection to one oi the gears in said housing, or to saidf connecting mem-ber.

lll,- n a brake mechanism, the combination with. a tightening element; ot a housing cennecterZ with said tightening element; a connecting element secured' to said housing;l ai plurality ot'int :meshing gears carried by said housing; a stationary gear independent ot' said housing arrangedv to mesh with the gearscarrie'dl by said housing; clutch members onA one of the gears inl said housing, and additional clutch members on said connecting member a clutch device having meansl for connection with the clutch mem'- bers of said gear or said connecting member; and means free of said gear andi sai'd connecting means and having operative engagement with said clutch device tor driving and shitting the same.

I2'. In a brake mechanism, the combination with a tiglitening element; of a plurality of transmitting means cooperating With said tightening element, one of sai-d' transmitting means including planetary gearing; clutch members associated withl each of said transmitting means; ar clutch device having clutch members for engagement WithA the clutch members of either of said transmitting means, and' normally held in one engaging position; and a driving member free of said clutch members, said driving member being provided Wit-h inclinedA driving faces arranged to engage the clutch members of said clutch device in one position, and straight faces adapted to engage said clutch member ot said clutch device, in'v another' position thereof.

13, In a brake mechanism, the combination with :in-operating stati' having a ratchet wheel thereon; of a carrier disposedv about saidl staff, and having' alever pivotally mounted thereon, said lever being provided with a paWl' for engagement Withsaid ratchet in one position thereo;`nreans for preventing retrograde movement oi" saidE stati; a tightening element; aI plurality of transmitting means associated with said? tightening ele- 

